Dateline:  Earl, NC

Ms. Arrie Ethel Bailey Ellis, 94, of 2737 Blacksburg Road, passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center, after a brief illness.

She was the daughter of the late Joseph Benjamin Bailey and Eula Doty Bailey. She was a member of Westview Baptist Church. The church was the center of her life and she learned early on to enjoy its mighty message, community spirit and opportunity to serve her fellow man. She worked at Esther Mill in Shelby for 31 years, Cleveland Regional Medical Center for five years and then managed a private pathology lab. She was the first woman elected as mayor of a town or city in Cleveland County and served the town of Earl for 20 years from age 69 to 89. She founded the Cleveland County Coalition of Mayors. In 2005 the Town Hall of Earl was named the Arrie B. Ellis Municipal Building to honor her 20 years of service as mayor.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Carl Ellis.  They were married 20 years leaving her widowed at age 40. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Ambrose and John Bailey; three sisters, Georgia Owens, Betty Jane Farrow and infant sister, Nora; grandson, David Ellis; and two infant granddaughters, Jessie and Bailey.

She loved her family and leaves to cherish fond memories, her children, Joe Ellis and wife, Kay, of Cincinnati., Ohio; Brenda Dunlevy and husband, Paul, of Kernersville, N.C., and Patti Norman and husband, Keith, of Earl; six grandchildren, Paul Ellis, Fredrique Ellis, wife of the late David Ellis, Heather Dunleavy and husband, Andrew, Shane Dunlevy and wife, Emily, Clay Norman and wife, Jessica, and Brady Norman; six great-grandchildren, Julien Ellis, Caitlin and Declan Scheerer, Malcolm Dunlevy, Kaleb Norman and Maycie Norman; a sister, Wilene Pearson; best friend, Evelyn Turner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: The family will receive friends Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory.

Funeral: Friday, Jan. 28, 4 p.m., Westview Baptist Church

Burial: New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105

Funeral Home: Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home is serving the family of Ms. Ellis.

Guest Registry is available at

www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com